Good Hotel: Doing Good, Doing Well Essay

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to explore Case Study # 10 – Good Hotel: Doing Good, Doing Well?excerpted from Strategic Management: Planning for Domestic and Global Competition Thirteenth Edition authored by John A. Pearce II and Richard B. Robinson published 2013 by The McGraw – Hill Companies New York, NY. This paper will seek to address five issues concerning the Good Hotel case study. This paper will discuss the vision/mission behind the concept of the hotel. Pam Janusz’s considerations that she may present to the new hotel ownership will be discussed. The Good Hotel’s target customers will be defined and assessed. The marketing strategy of jDV for the Good Hotel will also be assessed and discussed. Finally, this paper will give insight as to how the Good Hotel should be competitively positioned against its rivals. Keywords: Hotels American Pacific International Capital, Inc. acquired the Good Hotel located in San Francisco in May 2010 and is now managed by HAIYI Hotels and Management Group. (Hotel Interactive, 2010) Joie de Virve was the prior management of the Good Hotel. (Pearce and Robinson, 2013) The hotel is referred to as a â€Å"hotel with a conscience.† (Pearce and Robinson, 2013) The hotel desires to inspire the â€Å"good in us all.† (Pearce and Robinson) Mission/Vision The Good Hotel’s mission is to make differences for guests and associates by sharing passions for work, life and individualized experiences. (Haiyi Hotels). Its vision is to be a unique boutique hotel with its own character  and style.(Haiyi Hotels). Pam Janusz Considerations Pam Janusz weighed three different options for the hotel to present to the new ownership. She considered the continuing, expanding, or discontinuing Good Hotel’s concept. The continuation of the current concept would have a minimum effects on operations. The recently trained staff embraced the current concept which led to increased customer satisfaction and occupancy, and financial results were being met or exceeded. Continuing the concept of the hotel can also have disadvantages. Increased awareness of the need to become more friendly to the environment may lead to a more competitive marketplace. The employees could become complacent and may resist future needed changes. The hotel may acquire a greater market share if the current concept was expanded. This option could increase the hotel’s occupancy and increase the financial bottom line. Since the associates have recently been trained on the current concept, they may be more receptive of additional training to expand the concept instead of replacing the concept completely. The decision to expand could have some repercussions though. Employees may be resistant of the additional training and there would be additional costs and decreased productivity, because of the training. The third consideration of Pam was to completely discontinue the current concept of the hotel and seek a new direction. If this option was chosen, then there would be a fresh new start under new management with a new concept of the hotel. This decision may be beneficial or detrimental to the hotel. It could be beneficial because of a fresh new start. The hotel could re-brand itself by setting a new tone and image. The cons of the decision to discontinue the current concept are similar to the cons of expanding. With discontinuing the current concept, associates may resist the change especially since they have recently been trained on the current concept. They would have to be trained a new concept and the training comes with a monetary cost. Good Hotel’s Customers The Good Hotel targets customers who are environmentally conscious. These customers are referred â€Å"Cultural Creatives† by sociologists(Pearce and Robinson, 2013) These customers tend to be younger in age and hold the belief that they are to be responsible both economically   environmentally. JdV’s Marketing Strategy Chip Conley, JdV’s founder and CEO, stated that he became interested in hospitality industry because he â€Å"enjoyed commercial real estate but hated the transactional part.† (Pearce and Robinson, 2013) Per Conley, if a customer perceives a hotel as an extension of themselves, then the hotel would be an aspiration to them. JdV’s strategy is being â€Å"geographically focused and product-line diverse.† This strategy may suffice, but it can also have disadvantages. The greatest disadvantage of this strategy is the limitation placed upon itself by filling a niche market which will lead to a smaller segment of customers desiring their services. Competitive position The Good Hotel has positioned itself competitively in relation to industry rivals. Great strides were made by the Good Hotel from 2009 to 2010. The hotel’s twelve month occupancy from 2009 to March 2010 increased 61.3%. (Pearce and Robinson, 2013) The industry’s twelve month occupancy declined 9.9% over this period. (Pearce and Robinson, 2013) The hotel has a great outlook for future profitable business. References Haiyi Hotels. About Haiyi Hotels. Retrieved 05/07/2014 http://www.haiyi-hotels.com/ soma-hotels-san-francisco-en.html Hotel Interactive. May 3, 2010. Haiyi Hotels and management group assume ownership of three San Francisco hotels subsidiaries of American Pacific International Capital, Inc (APIC) make first U.S. Hotel purchases in San Francisco, California. Retrieved 05/07/2014 from http://www.hotelinteractive.com/article.aspx?articleid=16899. Pearce, John A. II and Robinson, Richard B. Robinson, Jr. Strategic management. 13th edition McGraw Gill. 2013.

Expository Essay Sara worst fear

I have many fears but my worst fear is the dark. There are many things about the dark that scare me. It feels like all of sudden something is going to pop out of somewhere. What if there's a hole or something in front of me and fall. What if can't see my way out and I'm trapped in the dark forever. One reason that am so afraid of the dark is that sometimes I feel like something is about to jump out somewhere. Don't know if anything is really there because I can't see.Something could be hiding behind something and I wouldn't even know. When it's dark I begin to wonder if ghosts are really real. If something were to jump out at me it could hurt me or just scare me really bad. I would want to get out of the dark alive. Another reason is that I'm afraid of not knowing where I am going. I would probably fall or bump into something. I might even run into something painful. If something bad happened to me wouldn't know where to get help unless someone was with me.I am also afraid that I wo n't be able to find my out of the darkness. I couldn't see if I'm near the exit or not. Would probably go the wrong way. I definitely wouldn't want to stay in the dark forever. I would get scared just sitting there. In conclusion, I can't stay in the dark for more than 5 seconds. I start thinking about things jumping out from behind things, afraid that I'll fall or bump into something, and not be able to find my way out.

Research critique part 2 Essay

Quantitative Research Critique This is a quantitative study research critique of the research study conducted by Lisa M Black PhD,RN,CNE, Tragedy into Policy: A Quantitative Study of Nurses Attitudes Toward Patient Advocacy Activities. The findings from this research study was used in the state of Nevada to protect nurses when reporting unsafe conditions in patient care practices, thus providing a safer work environment where nurses can feel safe when speaking out where patient safety is in jeopardy from unsafe care practices. Protection of Human Participants The benefits of this study were the creation of legal protection for whistleblowers in the state of Nevada. There were no risks to any participants’ safety for this study. Informed consent was not needed as retuning the completed survey was viewed as consent to be included. All participation in the study was viewed as voluntary. Approval of the survey tool was obtained from the University of Nevada, Reno prior to beginning data collection. (Black, 2011, p. 29) Data Collection The dependent variables in this study are the registered nurses licensed to practice in the state of Nevada; the independent variable was the Registered Nurses’ Workplace Support for Patient Advocacy Activities Study Questionnaire.(Black, 2011, p. 29) Data was collected through the developed questionnaire that was sent to 1725 registered nurses with active, current licensure and residing in the state of Nevada at the time of the survey.(Black, 2011, p. 29) The author provided no rationale for using the chosen data collection method, I would assume that this was the most cost effective and best way to maintain privacy for all respondents. The surveys were sent out using the United States Postal Service on September 8, 2008. (Black, 2011, p. 30) The respondents were asked to complete the survey by one of two methods, filling out, and returning the paper survey via US postal service or by completing it online. All responses were accepted through October 31, 2008. (Black, 2011, p. 30) After distribution of the questionnaire respondents were given the time period listed September 8, 2008 through October 31, 2008 to respond to the survey either written or online. (Black, 2011, p. 30) Data Management and Analysis A priori power analysis was performed and established that a minimum sample of â€Å"405 respondents would be required to detect a medium effect size.†(Black, 2011, p. 29) In order to determine if the study sample was â€Å"demographically representative† of nurses in Nevada, the demographic data was compared to the data from the 2004 National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses from Nevada. (Black, 2011, p. 29) Reliability testing of the survey tool â€Å"demonstrated a high degree of internal consistency.† (Black, 2011, p. 30) No statistical software was mentioned in this study. Other than the reliability testing performed, the survey results were calculated with a total of 564 valid responses collected this represented 33% response rate. (Black, 2011, p. 30) Response number varied from item to item as most participants left one or more items blank. (Black, 2011, p. 30) I felt this study was a reliable source of information concerning legislation protecting whistleblowers from workplace retaliation. According to the priori power analysis the minimum sample necessary of 405 respondents was required; with 564 valid responses received the minimum sample size was met. (Black, 2011, p. 29) The limitations that are identified in this study were, the sample size was considered to be small, even with the randomly chosen sample there was a potential response bias, and due to the nurses who have negative work environments may be more likely to complete the questionnaire than those with a more positive one. (Black, 2011, p. 33) This created the potential for inflated representation of the frequency and severity of these experiences. (Black, 2011, p. 33) This is the reason for caution when applying the findings to nurses outside of this study. (Black, 2011, p. 33) The survey tool did not allow for differentiation of different types of unsafe situations or different levels of retaliation. (Black, 2011, p. 34) Interpretation of survey questions may vary from one respondent to another. (Black, 2011, p. 34) This research study was presented in a logical easily understood manner with explanation and definition of findings and limitations. The findings of this study to were used in the creation of a law protecting nurses reporting unsafe patient care practices in acute care facilities and free standing offices and clinics in Nevada. The creation of this legislation helps create an environment for nurses to carry out† their moral imperative to prevent harm to patients whenever possible and to report potential or actual causes of harm† to protect patients.(Black, 2011, p. 35) There were no suggestions for future research. There was suggestion for changes in workplace environments encouraging openness in communication and especially in cases where patient safety is a concern. (Black, 2011, p. 35)

Future earth-climate of earth (around the equator) 250 million years later

The story about the climate at the equator 250 million years ago is both interesting and frightening. Interesting, because it puts all the things we concern ourselves with right now in perspective, and they seem very insignificant, and frightening, because of what it suggests is in store for us. It is believed that 250 million years from now, by a process of ‘subduction’, a giant continent called ‘Pangea Ultima’ will be formed, which will consist of North America and Africa married to one another with South America rounding off the bottom of the supercontinent. A miniscule ocean basin will remain at the bottom of the two continents.This marriage and other changes will cause a big effect on temperature. The huge landmass will mean that winds reaching the land will be denuded of their moisture. Much of what is now southern North America will fall on the Equator. Because it will be robbed of any moisture bearing winds, it will probably become barren, and may ev en form into a desert. The beaches of Miami will probably be replaced by an Arizona like landscape. In addition to the geosphere, the water bodies (the hydrosphere) will also make a big impact on the temperature and climate around the equator.What is today the Indian Ocean will be trapped, creating a giant lake like body the size of modern Australia. Being trapped like a lake, the Indian Ocean will not be able to circulate air currents and therefore affect temperature. Parts of the Indian subcontinent that will then (and even today to) fall on the equator will likely not benefit from the South Western and North Eastern monsoons that bring rain and influence temperature. The atmosphere will not be left behind in this giant drama. The atmosphere acts a conduit in the transfer of heat and water from the oceans and seas to the land.The formation of a new giant ocean and a supercontinent will make the transmission of this heat energy from the sea to the land and water vapour (which is de posited on land as rain) more difficult. Instead of carrying moisture laden winds, large parts of the giant landmasses, particularly around the equator will be affected by hot, dry winds, which will increase temperature on the surface as well. In the same vein, the atmosphere may serve to radiate hot air outwards from the centre of these giant continents to the peripheries, which could increase the temperature in other regions, and also affect the surface temperature.As a consequence, the temperature overall might rise, exacerbating the effect of climate change induced by human factors. The outlook is not all grim however. Higher temperatures, coupled with a giant lake like Indian Ocean (providing an abundant supply of water) could result in the proliferation of plant life in much of equatorial Africa, South America and Asia. The proliferation of plant life would bring down temperatures and reduce levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, countering the effects of global warming.T he contortion of the landmass of Eurasia will bring the eastern parts of Russia, such as the port city of Vladivostok along the equator. The climate pattern in Russia in particular will therefore completely change, becoming much less severe and a lot more temperate and even equatorial. Finally, California and large parts of then equatorial North America will have very heavy, even torrential rainfall. Them being the first landmasses after several thousand miles of ocean, huge amounts of water will be deposited as rain in these parts. This could have a cooling effect on the temperature there.

Firm performance Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Firm performance - Research Paper Example ,000 - $3,000,000 - $4,400,000 = - $2,400,000 profit Now, assuming $3,000,000 fixed costs ($4,400,000 + $3,000,000) / 200,000 = $37 average total cost ($25 - $37) x 200,000 = $200,000 x (-12) = -$2,400,000 profit -2,400,000 / $80 worker wage = 30,000 workers laid off What should be done at the firm In the first scenario, the business breaks even, thus when fixed costs increase over $600,000, the business should shut down production or at least consider its capacity in terms of labor and the pricing of the finished output. At $1,000,000, the business takes a profit loss of $400,000. Certainly at fixed costs increasing to $3,000,000 rather than the $1,000,000, the business is taking a profit loss of $2,400,000 which is substantial and would be difficult to offset without a significant cut in labor. In a practical firm environment with manufacturing, this is likely not feasible. In the third scenario when assuming fixed costs of $3,000,000, it would require laying off 30,000 workers, wh ich is 60 percent of the entire labor force. Below is the calculation for the new worker productivity with laid off workers when fixed costs total three million dollars. 200,000 units of output / 20,000 = 10 total worker productivity (a raise from 4 in scenario 1) There is really not enough data provided about the dynamics of worker responsibility or the tangibles of the production system to determine whether workers can increase their productivity without considering layoffs of 60 percent of the staff. However, as aforementioned, it is likely not feasible to reduce the workforce by such a significant volume without reducing output. The total worker productivity calculation is a quantitative evaluation tool that does not take into consideration the operations environment or capacity. The most logical course of action would be to raise the selling price of the finished product from $25 to a more competitive market price that will allow for profit to be achieved. A small fraction of t he workforce, say 10 percent, would provide for $400,000 cost savings and could likely be achieved with careful production planning, consolidation, or other operational changes. By adding an additional $5 to the selling price, revenues would increase from $5,000,000 to $6,000,000, which would provide profit in the scenario where fixed costs are $600,000, when assuming $1,000,000 and much closer to break-even when the fixed costs are assumed at $3,000,000. Profit of $1,000,000 by reducing 10 percent of the workforce and enhancing pricing structure from $25 to $30 would add $1,400,000 to revenues and worker cost savings. With subsequent pricing increases, the losses can be offset without disrupting productivity or output volumes. The business should consider market conditions and demand factors before establishing an appropriate price increase to ensure that business is not lost and the output product can still be competitive in the marketplace. When prices increase,

The appearance of 'symbolism' and 'themes' found in Maya Angelou's, I Essay

The appearance of 'symbolism' and 'themes' found in Maya Angelou's, I know Why the Caged Bird Sings - Essay Example The years in between are marked by at least seven major upheavals of her life, moving from her parents home as a tiny child to her grandmother’s house in Stamps, back to St. Louis to live with her mother and back to Stamps following a rape by her mother’s boyfriend. Eventually, she is returned to her mother, this time in San Francisco. Her visit to her father in Southern California turns into a nightmare period of living on the streets until she is finally able to return to her mother’s home in San Francisco. Throughout the story, Angelou employs a great deal of symbolism to relate her personal journey to the greater journey of the black woman of her generation through such devices as Maya’s Easter Dress, Momma’s store, Maya’s rape at the age of eight, the metaphor of the cage and the concept of voice. The story begins with a particularly poignant scene from Maya’s early life in Stamps that instantly identifies the degree to which the black community was subdued under the yoke of white expectations through the symbol of the lavender dress. Although Maya’s community is entirely black, her ideals regarding what is beautiful are established by the white world outside. This concept is symbolized in the form of her lavender Easter dress. â€Å"I knew that once I put it on I’d look like a movie star †¦ I was going to look like one of the sweet little white girls who were everybody’s dream of what was right with the world† (Angelou 1). In this statement, Angelou captures the primary desire of all black girls of her generation and before and many since who have felt the only way to find social acceptance was to somehow rid oneself of one’s ‘blackness.’ Angelou herself has indicated that she â€Å"wasn’t thinking so much a bout my own life or identity. I was thinking about a particular time in which I lived and the influences of that time on a number of people †¦ I used the central figure –

Business Strategy and the Kingspan PLC Group Case Study

Business Strategy and the Kingspan PLC Group - Case Study Example According to this view strategy wraps around trading formulas into an acceptable systems where all or part of the firm's investment portfolio are integrated. This view is governed by rules that do not deviate, based on anything other than market action and it eliminates emotions bias because the systems operate within the parameters known by the trader or an investment firm. The proponents of this view argue it in two ways: firstly where a trader only needs to trade at the beginning and at the end to ensure the payoff and secondly it is applied between the start and the maturity of the derivative where a trader needs to trade more than once to ensure the payoff at maturity. 1 It relies on the collection of economic data which consists of measurable values of prices and changes in prices, for measurable commodities for example the cost of a particular commodity and how much of it is being used, the relationship between the general level of prices and the general level of employment this including the observable forms of economic activities such as money, consumption, preferences, buying, selling and prices. A strategy can also be viewed as a planning process that can allow an organization to concentrate its resources on the greatest opportunities to increase sales and achieve a sustainable competitive advantage, serving as a fundamental underpinning of marketing plans designed to reach an organizations marketing goals, policies and action tactics into a cohesive whole. This view may take the form of market dominance where organizations are classified based on the market share or dominance of organization for example, a market leader, a market challenger and a market follower. It may also take the form of the dimensions of the strategic scope relating to the market penetration and strategic strength of the competing firms, where by competitive advantage such as cost leadership, product differentiation and market segmentation can be achieved. 2It also takes the form of dealing with the firm's rate of new product development and business model innovation. It also describes how the firm sh ould grow which is normally done by horizontal integration, vertical integration, diversification or intensification. Another view of a strategy is a process of specifying an organization's visions, initiatives and processes in order to deploy their online assets including: websites, digital audio and video content, rich internet applications, community groups, banner advertisements in a manner that maximizes the business benefits they provide to the organization. This plan is normally presented in three ways:-identifying key opportunities or challenges in a business where online assets can provide a solution:-identifying the unmet needs and goals of the customers that align with key business opportunities and lastly developing a vision on how the assets will fulfil the business and customer needs, goals, opportunities and challenges. The other view of strategy is concerned with geographic direction of state's foreign policy. This describes a foreign policy thrust